Page 133 - Jefferson County AR 1889 History (Goodspeed)

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must work out its own salvation. He says among ifesting that faithfulness and efficiency in the dis-

other good things, that the great mses of the negro charge of his duties which have redounded to his

'Ipopnlation in the South do not need classical edn- i own credit md the perfect satisfaction of those

cation, but a business and an industrial training. ' whoseinterests have been in his control. He is in-
He has always stood np for his ideas of what he deed a citizen who commands the proud respect of
conceived to he right, and while very naturally his every Arkansan as well as residents of all other

Iopinions may not always have met nniversal ap- localities, and his example is one well worthy of

'proval, they have commanded respect and kindly ; emulation. July 25, 1882, Mr. Middlebrooks

notice. In 1880 he was a delegate to the National I married Miss Sarah J. Hinton. They are members

Repnbliean Convention, at Chicago, at that time of the Baptist Church, m d he belongs to t,he
b4ng the youngest member of the convention. Mmnic fraternity.
Again in 1884, he was a member of the National A. S. Moon, deputy circuit clerk and recorder.

Convention, at Chicago, from the State of Missis- is justly conceded to be one of the moat prominent

sippi, along with Messrs. B. K. Bmcq John R. colored citizens of Jefferson County. A native of

Lynch. Thomas W. Stringer, James Hill and that connty, he was horn on September 16, 1847,

Iothers. When he saw the inevitable conflict and and was reared and educated in his birthplace,

prejudice that existed between the whites and the remaining with his master, Robert W. Walker,

blacks of Mississippi, he at once took in the situa- nntil he attained his freedom. He then farmed

tion and determined to come west. Settling in with his father for three years, after which he

Jefferson County, Ark, for awhile, he engaged as taught school in Pine Blnff and throughout the

tutor in the public schools, but his local party soon county with great success, having received an ex-

1recognized in him a conservative and forcible cellent education in his youth. I n 1876 he was

speaker, and his consistant manner n well as other elected county treasurer, and served one farm, aft-

1commendabletraits soon called him to better fields ' erward holding the office of depnty sheriff and

of labor, if not more lurative ones. I n 1888. rll&r nntil the year 1879, when he again re-
when the Republicans had once more determined sumed his farm work. In the fall of 1880 Mr.

Ito give the Demmatic party a hard fight for the Moon w u elected circuit court clerk and recorder,

1 presidency. and to elect at least two congressmen / but turned that office over to Mr. Fwd Havis, the
Ifrom the State of Arkansas, that party placed Mr. present ~ncnmbent,in 1882. He then secured a

Middlebruh on the ticket na elector for the position the postoffice, and for two years and a
Yecodd congressional district of Arkansas. Upon half was a very efficient delivery clerk. The fol-

clearly appearing before the people, he was at once lowing Jalrnary he came back as depnty, the posi-

accorded a worthy plaee as a leader among men, tion heat present fills. and has always given entire

and became the confidential friend of the late con- satisfaction even to the smallest details of his du-

gressman-elect, John M. Clayton. He was with ties. Mr. Moon was married in 1878 to Miss Cor-

IMt. Clayton, aiding and abetting his cause of con- nelia Henly, by whom he had four children: Isaac

teat against Ron. O. R. Brecbnridge; and fore. A,. Edward S., Emma L. and Sadie C., but lmt
s ~ e i n gthe dangers awaiting the former a day his excellent wife in 1883. Mr. Moon is a member

or eo before they came to pass, made known to o* the United Brothers of Friendship. of which he

his friend his fears, stating that he should not is eecretary, and in religions belief is a member of

remain at Plnmmerville. The brave reply was: "If the Presbyterian Church. He has been fairly suc-

I knew they would ki me I should remain at my cessful in his farming operations, and aleo owns

post of duty." Mr. Middlebrooks is now deputy some good property in town, and is held in that

revenue colleator for the Eastern district of Arkan- high respect which good citizenship always brings.

sas. I n addition to this he has been called upon William Peters. Among the colored residents of

to occupy other positions of public tmst, ever man- Little Rock, whose honorable career has won the

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